Lady Justice Hallett: profile

Lady Justice Hallett, one of the country's most senior judges, has claimed she
encountered "horrific" sexism during her rise through the judiciary.

Lady Justice Hallett claims she encountered "horrific" sexism during her rise through the legal professionPhoto: PA

7:30AM GMT 08 Nov 2011

Now one of only four female Court of Appeal judges in the land, the Oxford graduate’s ascent through the judiciary reads like a fairytale.

However, the 61-year-old has claimed that she suffered under a culture of discrimination and that on one occasion as a young barrister, she was thrilled to have received a promotion, only to be propositioned by the senior male judge who had got her the job.

The daughter of a policeman and a secretary, Heather Hallett has risen through the ranks without the social advantages of many of her colleagues.

She won a place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford after leaving grammar school and went on to study law.

She was called to the Bar in 1972 and took silk 17 years later, before progressing through the ranks to become the first woman to chair the Bar Council, in 1998.

She was made a high court judge in 1999 and has served on the court of appeal since 2005.

She is currently Treasurer of the Inner Temple and as vice-president of the Queen's Bench Division, is a contender to be the first female Lord Chief Justice.

Lady Justice Hallett was widely applauded for her compassionate handling of the inquests of the 52 people killed in the on July 7 bombings, for which she acted as coroner. She delivered a verdict of unlwaful killing in May.

Her husband, Nigel Wilkinson, is a recorder and deputy high court judge. The couple live in south-west London and have two sons.